Treating apparatus



Feb. 11, 1936- o. OPPENLENDER sr M TREATING APPARATUS Filed May 25, 1951 4 Sheets-Sheet l Nil lil- Feb- 11, 1936. o. QPPENLAENDER Er A1. A 2,030,711

TREATING APPARATUS Filed May 25, 1931 if@ 4115 if Je? d Feb. 11, 1936. o. oPPr-:NLAl-:NDER Erm. 2,030,711,

TREATING' APPARATUS Filed May 2.5, r1931 4 sheets-sheet 5 5f f ,fm/KM l Feb. 11, 1936.

o. OPPENLAENDER Er A1.

TREATING APPARATUS A Filed May 25, 1931 ,/'scharge fo Sewer 4 Sheets-snee?. 4

HaceSS Emp @Mfg/a@ www Patented Feb. ll, 19.36

PATENT OFFICE TREATNG APPARATUS Oscar Oppenlaender,

'Elizabethtom and Richard J. Gollong and Ralph H. Carter,

Johnson City,

Tenn., assignorsto North American Rayon Cox'- poration, New York, N. Y.,

Delaware a corporation of' i Application May 25g, 1931, serial No. 539,730

18 Claims.

This invention relates to the treatment ol'V thread and more particularly to an improved apparatus suitable -for conveniently washing or otherwise treating threads wound upon bobbins or spools or other receivers. In describing the invention reference will be made to its'use in connection with the treatment of articial silk threads made according to the viscose process but it is not intended to thereby limit it to the particular use described since it will be apparent that it may be used to advantage in washing and treating articial threads produced by other processes and in otherwise treating threads.

In the production of threads by the viscose process the viscose solution is forced from the spinnerette into a suitable precipitating bath which is usuallyan acid bath containing dissolved salts. 'I'he precipitated thread is subsequently subjected to a washing step to rel'nove any of the .xing solution remaining upon the thread, after which it is ordinarily subjected to a desulphurizing solution, such as a solution of ammonium sulphide, and to subsequent washing and bleaching operations to produce the finished thread. l

It is an object of this invention to provide an improved apparatus in which the threads may be conveniently subjected toa pluralityof such washing or treating solutions, subsequent to the precipitation step. A further object is to provide a convenient arrangement of apparatus whereby dierent liquids may be conducted to andwithdrawn from a washing tank without danger of mixing the several solutions. Another object is to provide an improved locking means for preventing accidental movement of the feed and discharge pipes While the system is in operation. Other objects will become apparent.

In describing the invention reference will be made to the drawings in which Figure 1 is a side l elevation of the improved apparatus. Figure 2 is an end elevation of the apparatus shown in Figure l, looking from the right. Figure 3 is a section taken on the lines 3-3 of Figures 1 and 2.

Figure 4 is a sectional view taken on the line 6 4 of Figure 3. Figure 5 is a detailed section taken on the 'line 5 5 of Figure 3. Figure 6 is a fractional section taken on the line 6 6 of Figure 5. Figure 7 is a diagrammatic view of the vacuum system. Figure 8 is a vertical section through the lling pipe. Figure 9 is a vertical section through the swivel joint.

In the several drawings the numeral Ill designates a tank within which the thread is to be treated. The several liquids used in washing or treating the thread in the tank I of each unit are conducted from separate storage tanks ||la for these liquids through the filling lines I la, I Ib and llc, etc, having branches I2a, |217 and |2c,

etc. with shut 0E valves |30.; I3b and |30, etc.,

said branches extending downwardly to provide outlets positioned on an arc of a circle described about a point above the pivot I4.

A pipe`| ls supported by the frame I6 which may be pivoted about the pin I4. The upper end of the pipe I5 is provided with a sleeve Il having a flared upper end and adapted to telescope `within the pipe I5. A handle I8, as illustrated more clearly in Figure is pivotally mounted at 9 on the support 20, which is clamped to the pipe I5. The inner bifurcated ends of the handle I8 provide arms 2|, 2| carrying inwardly extending pins upon which the rollers 2| a and 2|a, positioned between the flanges 22 and 23 xed to the sleeve I'l, rotate.

The lower end of the sleeve carries a pin 24 about which the upper end of a rod 25 is bent to provide an elongated slot 26 within which .the pin 24 will slide when the sleeve is moved downwardly from its normal position. When the sleeve I1 is raised the pin\ 24 will engage the hook at the top of the rod 25 to lift that rod. The rod 25 passes through the pipe I5 and is provided with a hook 21 at its lower end that engages an eye in the valve 28 extending into and covering the outlet 290i the T fitting at the lower end ofthe pipe I5. A pin I8a, which may be passed through one of the three holes lb in the support 20 and a hole ln' the handle I8 which registers with one of said holes in its raised, lowered and normal position, serves to retain the handle and the sleeve I1 in the desired position. The horizontally extending outlet 30 of the T fitting at the end of the pipe I5 communicates with the hole 3| in the bottom of the tank III through Aa pipe 32, a swivel connection positioned below the pivot I4, and a pipe 33. As indicated more clearly in Figure 9, this swivel connection comprises an annular plate 34 which rits around the end of the downwardly projecting L' iitting 35 at the end of the pipe 33 and which rests upon the outwardly turned ange of the upwardly projecting L fitting 31 at the end of the pipe 32 and is held there by countersunk bolts 38 so as to hold an inwardly extending annular washer 39 of rubber or other suitable material. This ring is also provided with an annular depression adapted to receive the iiange 36, which is fixed to the` L tting 35, and has upwardly and downwardly extending annular prothe iilaments may be partially dried by the air drawn through the perforations'in the bobbin.

It is of particular importance in the apparatus described that the liquid discharged from the tank I can only pass intothe outlet corresponding to the filling line from which the tank was filled. As long as there is any liquid in the tank I0 or the well 63, the discharge line cannot Vbe moved to another drain pipe. It may be desirable to start the withdrawal of the liquid from the tank l0 before the tank ls completely filled.

This may be accomplished with the arrangement described, since the outlet is through a line separate from the inlet line.

Although the invention has been described in connection with the use of three filling and discharge pipes, itis apparent that more or fewer iilling or discharge pipes may be used, depending upon whether the material being treated is to be subjected to more or less operations. For e25- ample, more pipes may be added if it is desired to also use the apparatus for bleaching and for dyeing the threads or otherwise treating them. Also other actuating means may be used for operating the locking pin 66, for example, this may be accomplished by a spring and an electromagnet operated through a circuit opened and closed by' the movement of the float 63 or by other suitable and well known means.

When the liquid 'is supplied continuously to the tank I0 while it is being withdrawn from that tank, the valve |3a, I3b or I3c may be left slightly opened or a bypass may be provided around the valve, as illustrated at b. 'Ihis bypass may be provided with a valve 1lb, which may be automatically operated by a float 12 in the tank I0,

connected to the valve 1lb by an electric or mechanical connection (not shown). Also, if it is desired to recirculate the liquid through the bobbins, the discharge line may be yprovided with a Vbranch discharge line 'I3 having a valve 'I4 in order that the liquid may be run back to the tank Il). With this arrangement a portion or all of the liquid may be recirculated, the remainder being discharged. q l

It is apparent that the invention may be utilized in many diiferent forms and for other liquid treating operations of a similar nature and that the steps of the 4procedure may be altered, and it is not intended to restrict it to the particular embodiment described. The terms used in describing and claiming the invention are used in their descriptive sense and not as terms ofl limitation and it is intended that all equivalents of these termsbe included within the scope of the appended claims.

What we claim is:

1. An apparatus for treating threads upon receivers, comprising. a tank adapted to receive perforated receivers and provided with means for withdrawing the liquid that passes through the4 different liquids to said tank, a swinging connecting pipe adapted to connect said tank with any one of said filling lines, a receiving tank for the liquid withdrawn from said outlets, means for applying a vacuum to said receiving tank to draw liquid from the treating tank, means for withdrawing the liquid from said receiving tank under a higher degree of vacuum than that applied to the receiving tank to draw the liquid from the treating tank.

3. An apparatus for treating threads wound upon bobbins comprising a tank adapted to receive perforated bobbins and provided with means for withdrawing the liquid that passes through the perforations, separate feed lines for supplying different liquids to said tank and separate discharge lines for carrying liquid from said tank, a movable connection for connecting any of said lling lines with the said tank and a movable connection actuated with said filling connection and adapted to convey" liquid discharged from said tank to any of said discharge lines.

4. An apparatus for circulating separate treating liquids through a tank comprising a plurality of filling lines having discharge outlets positioned in the arc of a circle, a plurality of discharge lines having inlet openings positioned in the arc of a circle, a. pipe adapted to swing in the arc of a circle to connect any one of said filling pipes with the tank and a swinging discharge pipe actuated in accordance with the movement of said swinging connecting pipe for conveying liquid to an inlet in a discharge pipe.

5. An apparatus for "circulating separate treating liquids through a tank comprising a plurality of iilling lines for supplying liquid to said tank, a plurality of discharge pipes for receiving liquid from said tank, a swinging pipe adapted to convey liquid from any of said iilling linesto the tank,

a swinging discharge line adapted to convey liquid from the tank to any of said discharge lines,

means for actuating said swinging discharge line ing discharge line adapted to discharge liquid from the tank to any of said discharge lines, means for actuating said swinging discharge pipe with said swinging filling line and a locking device lactuated by a iioat in said tank for preventing movement of said swinging pipes while liquid is4 contained in the tank.

7. An apparatus for circulating liquids through a tank comprising a plurality of filling lines having downwardly disposed discharge outlets positioned in the arc of a circle, a plurality of discharge lines having upwardly disposed inlet openings positioned beneath said outlets, a pipe carried on a pivoted support and having an upper end adapted to swing in an arc beneath said outlets and a lower end adapted to swing in an arc above said inlets, an intermediate swiveled connection between the lower vend portion of said swing pipe and the tank, said lower end being also provided with a valve normally closed, a. telescopic sleeve at the upper end of said pipe adapted to be raised to surround an inlet opening from a filling line and means for raising and lowering said sleeve, a loose coupled rod connecting said sleeve with said. valve, and a locking pin actuated4 by a oat in said tank and adapted to hold said sleeve in a raised position while liquid remains in said tank.

uid from said tank into a plurality of dischargev lines comprising a pivotally supported pipe having an inlet at one end and being connected at its other end to the bottom of the tank by a pipe provided with a swivel connection, said rst mentioned pipe having a discharge outlet in its lowermost portion, and a valve in said outlet for closing the same whereby when said valve is closed liquid will be conveyed to said tank and when open will permit liquid to discharge from said tank into said discharge lines..

10. An apparatus for treating tiers of material -comprising a tank-having a vertical partition near one end extending from above the level of the liquid to'near the bottom of the tank, an .inlet for liquid between said partition and the closest end, a horizontal baille extending from said vertical partition above said inlet over a portion only of the end space, a. pipe for conveying a liquid to said tank and means for discharging from the tank the liquid "used in treating said material.

11. A container for treating tiers of material comprising a tank havinga baille extending from above the surface o1' the liquid to near the bottom of the tank, an inlet for liquid in the bottom of the tank on one side of said baille, and a baille extending from said first mentioned baille to a position above the said inlet and covering only a portion of the space on that side .of the iirst mentioned baille.

12. A swing pipe for conveyingliqulds from any one of 'a' plurality of outlets to atank, comprising a pipe communicating at one end with the tank and adapted to swing into line with each of said outlets, a sleeve telescopically arranged relative to the inlet end of said swing pipe and means carried by said pipe for Aactuating said sleeve to move it into a position to operatively connect said swing pipe and the adjacent outlet.

13. A swing pipe as dened in claim 12, in which the sleeve comprisesa ared end adapted to lit around the said adjacent inlet and an end adapted to t within' the swing pipe.

14. A swing pipe for conveying liquid from any one of a plurality of outlets to a tank, comprising a pipe communicating at one end with the tank and adapted to swing into line with each of said outlets, a sleeve telescopically arranged relative to the outlet end of said swing pipe and manS for actuating 'said sleeve to move it into a position to operatively connect said swing pipe and the adjacent outlet, said sleeve comprising' a iiared end adapted to ilt around the said adjacent outlet and an end adapted to fit within the swing pipe and the said means for actuating said:

sleeve comprising a pivoted lever adapted to advance and withdraw the sleeve.

15. Al swing pipe for conveying liquids from any one of a plurality of outlets to a tank, comprising a pipe communicating at one end with the tank and adapted to swing into line with each of said outlets, a sleeve telescopically arranged relative to the inlet end of said swing pipe, means for actuating said sleeve to move it into a posi- 'means for actuating said sleeve to move it into a position to operatively connect said swing pipe and the adjacent. outlet, said swing pipe being provided with a valve at its lower end operated by the movement of said sleeve. I

17. -A swing pipe for conveying liquids from any one of a plurality of outlets to a tank, comprising a pipe communicating at one end with the tank and adapted to swing into line with each of` said outlets, a sleeve telescopically arranged vrelative to the outletend of said swing pipe,

means for actuating said sleeve to move it into a position to operatively connect said swing pipe and the adjacent outlet, said swing pipe being providedA with a valve at its lower end operated by the movement of said sleeve and with means actuated by a iioat in said tank for locking said sleeve against movement out of engagement with the adjacent outlet when there is liquid in the tank, without interfering with the movement .of said sleeve to open the valve at its lower end.

18. A swing pipe for conveying liquid to a tank from several sources positioned in the arc of a circle and for discharging liquid from the tank to a plurality of receivers in an arc of a circle about the same center, comprising a swinging pipe connected to said tank by a swivel joint in line with the common center of said circles, an inlet to said pipe adapted to swing in the arc of saldsources and an outlet to` said pipe adapted to swing in the arc of said receivers and a valve in said pipe adapted to open and close said outlet.

OSCAR OPPENLAENDER. RICHARD J. GoLLoNG. RALPH H. CARTER. 

